Coahoma's big inning ends Iowa Park's surprising run
GRAHAM — Iowa Park’s run to the regional finals has been magical.
But Coahoma turned the Lady Hawks’ second inning Saturday into a never-ending nightmare.
The defending Class 3A state champions scored 12 times with two outs in the stanza, cruising to a 12-1 victory in a Region I-3A final that lasted only five innings.
The No. 1 Bulldogettes (30-0) advance to the 3A state semifinals Wednesday in Austin, while Iowa Park ends its season at 26-15-1.
“They’re really stinking good,” Iowa Park coach Eric Simmons said. “Their pitcher does a great job. She’s hard to hit, and a great hitter. There’s no holes in their lineup.”
Iowa Park struck first in the top of the second inning on Bailey Martinez’s blooper that scored Jacie Barnes from second base.
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But the lead was short-lived as 17 Coahoma batters came to the plate in the bottom half of the second inning. Callista Berrett, who’d won all eight playoff starts since returning from injury, had problems finding the strike zone.
With two outs and two on, Coahoma’s next 12 batters either had walks (six), hits (five) or reached on an error.
Brynn Rodgers and Karleigh Burt drove in two runs each on extra-base hits, while Baylor Wright had a three-run homer. University of Texas commit Hannah Wells added an RBI single for the last of the 12 runs.
“I know it sounds like a cliché, but hitting is contagious,” Coahoma coach Alex Orosco said. “Once the first person busts through the door, it starts a chain reaction. And it can easily go the other way, too. Stop the bleeding when you’re on defense and keep the momentum when you’re on offense.”
Simmons pulled Berrett after the deficit reached 11-1 as she finished with nine walks in the first 1 2/3 innings. The sophomore returned in the fourth after a 90-minute weather delay and retired the side. Kinslee Deel pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
“(Berrett) felt like she was getting squeezed a little bit. With a good-hitting team like that, you’re going to have to be able to live on the corners and get some of those calls,” Simmons said. “If you put them over the plate, they are good hitters and are going to take advantage of that.”
Wells earned the win in the circle, striking out eight and allowing two hits in five innings. Now she’ll lead Coahoma to Austin a third straight year as the Lady Bulldogettes look to defend their title.
“A lot of the work is done behind the scenes and then we show up to a competition and it shows,” Orosco said. “We just don’t show up and play. The expectation is there, but the job is still not done.”
Despite the loss, Simmons was proud of his team, which features no seniors and two juniors. He’s hoping the experiences gained during the program’s third trip to the regional finals in four years will pay off down the line.
“It’ll be good. We won’t have so much rebuilding at the beginning and already have the pieces figured out,” Simmons said. “Hopefully we can get into a rematch with Coahoma next year, but we have a lot of work to do before that. They’re a great team, and I wish them the best of luck.”
Region I-3A Softball Final
Coahoma 12, Iowa Park 1 (5)
Iowa Park 010 00 1 2 3
Coahoma 0(12)0 0x 12 6 2
WP: Hannah Wells. LP: Callista Berrett.
2B: (Co) Brynn Rodgers, Karleigh Burt. HR: (Co) Wright.
Leading hitters: (IP) Bailey Martinez 1x2, RBI; Jacie Barnes 1x2, run; (Co) Burt 2x4, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Wright 1x1, 2 runs, 3 RBI.
Records: Iowa Park 26-14-1; Coahoma 30-0.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Coahoma's big inning ends Iowa Park's surprising run
